Billiard-table.



No. 803,998. PATENTED NOV. 7, 1905. G. A. ELLISS 6: P. J. MUGUIRE. BILLIARD TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.11, 1904.

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ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE.

GEORGE ARTHUR ELLISS, OF LITHGOVV, AND PATRICK JOSEPH MCGUIRE, OF- GOULBURN, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA.

BlLLlARD-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. '7, 1905.

Application filed November 11, 1904. Serial No. 232,304-

of the table and for conveying the red ballfrom the balk end to the spot end of the table. For this purpose we construct along each side of the table below the cushions an inclined race, into which the balls pass from the pockets and along which they roll by process of gravitation to another race along the balk end and thence into a receiver medially placed therein. Extending from this central receiving-pocket beneath the center of the table is another race for the purpose of carrying the red ball from the aforesaid central receiving-pocket to the spot end of the table.

To make our invention clear, we shall now refer to the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Figure 1 is a frame of a billiard-table with the top portion removed for the purpose of showing the attachment in position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is an end elevation.

A A are the two side races. These can be made in any desired form; but the simplest and most serviceable would be a construction of three rods so arranged as to present to the rolling ball the minimum amount of frictionsurface. They would be secured to the table preferably by a series of light ornamentallyconstructed brackets and would be placed at any suitable position below the cushions. The pitch of the races would of course be suflicient to cause the ball to roll rapidly to its destination. I

B B are the two end races connecting the lower ends of the side races with the central receiving-pocket C.

D D D are the ordinary cushion-pockets.

These are connected with the races by any convenient means-for instance, by a sleeveshaped net so constructed as to check the fall of the balls into the race, or a cushioned bottom could be provided in the table-pockets with a short inclined passage leading into the race below.

When it is desired to add to the above system a means of conveying the red ball from the central receiving-pocket to the spot end, an additional race F is provided below the center of the table, terminating in another receiving-pocket G, and the central receivingpocket C is provided with a hinged bottom capable of being opened by means of the operating cord or wire H.

When a billiard-table is fitted with our attachments, a ball falling into any of the cushion-pockets will pass automatically into that portion of the race immediately below it and along this into the central receiving-pocket at the balk end of the table, so that the player can always regain possession of his ball at the one point, or if he be standing at the side of the table he can intercept the ball as it passes on its way along the race, and if the table be also provided with our central race attachment the marker can always obtain the red ball after pocketing by merely pulling the cord H, which opening the hinged bottom of the central receiving-pocket permits the ball to pass into the race F, along which it rolls to the receiver G at the spot end of the table.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is The combination with a billiard-table, of a raceway arranged at each longitudinal side of the table below the cushion and inclined do wnwardly from the spot end of the table to the balk end thereof, inclined raceways at the balk end of the table and leading from the lower ends of the side raceways to the center of the table, a receiving-pocket at the center of the balk end of the table and into which the end raceways discharge, the receivingpocket being provided with a hinged bottom, an operating cord or wire leading from the hinged bottom of the receiving-pocket to the Signed at Sydney, in the State of New South spot end of the table, a second receiving- Wales, this 24th day of September, 19%.

pocket below the table at the spot end 1 thereof, and an inclined raceway arranged V 5 below the longitudinal center of the table and C extending from below the first-named receiv- Witnesses:

ing-pocket to the second pocket, substantially ARTHUR GRIFFITH,

as herein shown and described. W. RATTRAY. 

